Can I get a disease from oral sex?

Yes, you can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from oral sex. STIs like HIV, gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, HPV, and syphilis can all be transmitted by oral sex. It’s possible to get an STI from oral sex even before your partner has symptoms. Barriers such as condoms and dental dams can help make oral sex safer, but they don’t prevent you from getting an STI 100% of the time.

If you or your partner(s) have symptoms of an STI, you should not have any kind of sex–including oral sex–until you see a health care provider. When you see your health care provider, tell them that you are having oral sex so that they can check you for infections and answer any questions you may have.

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The Center for Young Women’s Health (CYWH) is a collaboration between the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and the Division of Gynecology at Boston Children’s
Hospital. The Center is an educational entity that exists to provide teen girls and young women with carefully researched health information, health education programs, and conferences.